Stories: Violence in Leon pt. 5
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 -- Add Story
| We said out good-byes to the family and walked down to the Red Cross. Elder Christensen tied a white towel to the end of a stick and he held it in front of us. No one was on the streets that early and we were confident we could get out okay. We must have looked funny four young guys in white shirts, all with a gym bag or some overnight bag. When we got to the Red Cross, there were some injured people there that they were helping and they told us to wait. 7:00 am came and still the Red Cross told us to wait. We started to get nervous because we were losing valuable time. About 7:45 they told us it was too dangerous to go out and that we were on our own. We decided to leave as quickly as possible and get to the church where the Calls were. Elder Christensen led the way. I think he was so scared that the white towel waved by itself. We all were scared. The quickest way to the church forced us to walk laterally through 3 intersections of the Rebel front lines. As we approached the first, 5 men met us. Two had machine-guns, two had rifles and the last had a pistol. The one with the pistol asked us what we were doing and where we were going. Elder Hilton replied that we were leaving town. The guy then said that we were not and all five leveled their weapons at us. They surrounded us and escorted us up to the corner. At the corner, the local chief asked the guy with the pistol what was going on. He replied that he had four Gringo prisoners. Everyone at the intersection now turned around and pointed their weapons at us about 40 people. The local chief started laughing and making fun of the guy with the pistol. He said, Do you know what you have there? You got the Mormon missionaries. They are worthless. Let them go. With that, the guy with the pistol hung his head and said, Alright, get out of here. We walked through the intersection and two others like it. All the Rebels turned and pointed their guns at us as we passed. A block past the last intersection we turned toward the church we are in no-mans land now. There was about 6 blocks of no- mans land between the Rebel and Guardia front lines. The intersections behind us erupted in gunfire as the Guardia began their assault. We were just there, not five minutes ago. The church is now about 5 blocks away. We increase our pace, not wanting to be on the street with fighting so close. About 2 blocks away we heard a tank off to our right, we then started to run. We turned the corner on to the street where the church was. It was about halfway down the block. We ran faster because the tank seemed to be following us. We entered the church and moments later the tank rolled by, but did not stop. Ten minutes later, gunfire breaks out on the street. Brother and Sister Call are okay, but a little shaken. We are for that matter. There was a member that lived two blocks away. Elders Hilton and Christensen go to their house to prepare some food. While they are gone, gun battles break out on the streets outside. From the windows of the church, I saw planes fly over the city. Some looked like they were doing reconnaissance and some were shooting guns and missiles. I could see smoke rising from parts of the city. About two hours later, Elders Hilton and Christensen returned with a pot of tomato soup with rice in it. That was all we had to eat that day. The Calls have been in contact with a member who agreed to lead us out of town early the next morning. I dont remember the mans name, but early the next day, he showed up and led us out of the city a back route. It was unguarded because he led us through a minefield. Brother and Sister Call had their entire luggage, not just an overnight bag. It took all of us to lug it out of town. At the bypass road, Elders Hilton and Smart left us and went back into Leon. They called Managua to let zone leaders know we were coming and to expect us. They were going to try to hold the branch together through this mess. The Calls, Elder Christensen and I went on without them. We found a bus and boarded it. It is supposed to take us to Managua about 60 miles. After about 20 miles, the bus turned inland. It was not going to Managua after all and we all got off the bus. There we were, on the highway to Managua, out in the middle of nowhere. Brother Call went over to a gas station on the corner and announced to a group of men, Which one of you is going to take myself, my wife and my boys to Managua? No one answers. Brother Call then points to one and says You! I have 200 Cordobas (about $30) for you if you take us. The man agrees. Somehow we manage to pack, tie and strap all the luggage to the car. An even greater miracle was that we all fit into that tiny little car. Outside of Managua, the Guardia set up a roadblock. The driver wants to back out, but Brother Call gives him an extra 50 Cordoba to finish the trip. Heavily armed soldiers stopped us. Every piece of luggage and bag was searched. We were all searched except for Sister Call. There was a soldier who wanted to search her purse, but she kept it away from him by switching arms. Finally the soldier grabbed the purse and Sister Call slapped the soldier on the hand. The other soldiers laughed and Sister Call got a disgusted look on her face and said to her husband, Anson, this man is trying to get my purse. The soldier gave up and we piled back into the car. We got to the Zone leaders apartment and caught a cab for the airport. We were in the airport about 15 minutes when Elder Hilton and Elder Smart walked in. Elder Hilton and Smart went back into Leon and called the Zone Leaders. The ZLs had been trying to get a hold of us. President Muren wanted all missionaries out so the zone leaders had been trying to call them in. From my understanding, President Muren received his revelation to get the missionaries out on Tuesday the same day we were told by the Lord to get out. Elders Hilton and Smart walked to the edge of town again, not knowing what they would do. They began walking down the road and came upon a car, parked off to the side. There was a man gazing at the city. Planes were bombing the city. Smoke was rising from several quarters. The man started to get back in his car when Elder Hilton asked the guy what he was doing. He was a reporter from the free press that was sent to cover the war in Leon. Elder Hilton gave the guy 30 Cordobas (about $5) and he drove the two Elders directly to the airport! No one was fighting against us, but no one was fighting for us during that time. Any one of those people could have shot us and no one would have lifted a finger. I told my parents that I was used to having guns pointed at me by the time I left. It was and experience I am glad I went through, but I do not want to do it again. There are many other experiences, not told here, also not my own. One thing I learned those first three weeks was whom I was working for. The Lord did preserve and protect his missionaries. Elder Keith Neeley Leon, Nicaragua August 19 to September 14, 1978 |
| |
|
|
|
List All | Add Story
|
